Ditching-machine



E A. CHATTSTROM.

DITCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAYZ9, 1919.

Patented Apr. 12, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

. l/vvENToR HIS ATTORNEY E. A. CHATTSTROM.

DITCHING MACH NE.

APPLICATION may) MAY 29, 19:9.

1,374,488. I Patnted Apia-12,1921.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

INVENTOR WWW/mm, BY m/l kw.

15 ATTORNEY E A. CHATTSTROM.

DITCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATIQN FILED MAYZQ, 1919- 4 I 1,374,488. 7 Patented Apr. 12, 1921,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

// v VENTO'R HIS ATTORNEY" UNITED STATES PATENTFOFFICE, f

n ANDERS CHATTS'IROlVI, or nAvENroR'r, IOWA.

' DITCHINGMAGHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 29, 1919. Serial No. 300,750. Y

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, E ANDERs CHATTS:

formation of a trench of desired width and depth, in which may be laid the foundation of a building or other structure. The machine comprises a portable frame, carrying earth excavating deviceswhich are vertically adjustable and earth cutting mecha nism, adapted for use in advance of the excavating devices, and also capable of being adjusted vertically. It is also provided with means for elevating the excavated material and discharging the same at the side of the machine. p

The motive power for transportation of the machine may be furnished by a tractor or traction engine, and the operating parts of the machine can be actuated from the Fig. 3 is a rear end view of the frame and material discharging devices. Fig. 4; is an enlarged view of the rear end of the machine, Fig. 5 is a similar view of the front part thereof. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detailof the bracket 18. ..Fig.'7 is an end view of the excavating blades. Figs. 8 and 9 show two different forms for said blades.

The frame of the machine consists. of lower beams 1 and upper beams 2,supported on the beams 1 by means of uprights 3.

The frames thus formed are suitably united by cross-pieces in the usual manner. The

lower part of the frame is supported on carrying-wheels l. In the rear part of the frame is journaled ashaft 5, upon which is swingingly, supported one end of a frame 6, so that the free end of such frame is capable of vertical movement. In said free end of the frame is rotatably mounted a shaft 7,

upon which is secured a cylindrical member.

8, provided with radial plates 9, to which are attached blades 10, by means of bolts or similar fastening means permitting removal of the blades for purposes of repair.

Fixed on the shaft 7 is a sprocket-wheel Patented Apr. 12,1921;

11, connected by a sprocket-chain 12 with a similar wheel 13 on a shaft 141 journaled in L the upper part of a pair of supports '15 attached to the frame 6. On the-shaft 14 is a pulley 16, to which movement may be im-v parted by a belt 17, connected with a suit able source of power ahead of the machine.

, Uponfthe shaft 1a being rotated, movement is. communicated to the shaft 7 and excavating devices mounted thereon,to-cause aro tation of said devices, so as to operate inthe direction in which the machine is traveling.

Supported transversely; of the upper part I of the frame of the machine is a bracket 18, having a central threaded bearing 19 in' which ascrew 20-is adapted-to operate, to

lend vertical movement to said screw. The

lower end of said screw is provided with. av pivotal. connection with the shaft 14:, (not shown) so that by the operation of such screw the shaft 14; and parts associated therewith, including the excavating devices, can be raised or lowered, at will. The up-,

per end of the screw 20 is provided with a hand-wheel 21,. by means of which the same may be operated.

Inrear of the shaft 7 thereis supported 8 from the frame 6 a roller 22, around which I passes an endless apron '23, which. is further supported in the rear part of themae chine by a drum 24 on the shaft 5.

on a shaft 28, rotatably mounted at one side of the frame. Power maybe applied to "the shaft 28, to suitably rotate the same, by

' means of a pulley 29 on said shaft, adapted to be actuated by a belt 30, from the hereinbefore mentioned source of power. Through The shaft 5 is actuated'by means'ofa sprocketwheel 25 fixed thereon, and connected by a. sprocket-chain 26 with a similar'wheel 27 the operation of the shafts'28 and 5 the upper strip of the apron 23 is caused to travel thus imparted to the shaft 31, to'cause a continuous operation of the carrier 34:, while said shafts arein motion.

The blades 10 are bent in the direction of their movement, and when such blades are in rotation, and in engagement with the on a straight line, as shown in Fig. 8, or the same can be serrated, as in- Fig. 9. The

blades can also be set in spiral form, if desired.

In using the machine the frame 6 1S gradually lowered, with the excavating de-' vices n operation, until such devices cut a little waysinto the ground. The machine is then moved forward, and layer of the earth removed by such devices and carried to one side of'the machine. The operation nism at a lower level, and this is repeated until a trench is formed which possesses the required depth. The width of the trench is determined by the length of the blades 10.

- Swingingly supported on the shaft 14 is a pair of arms 37, united by an arch member I 38, with which the lower end of a screw 39 is rotatably connected, such screw passing upwardly through a threaded bearing in a bracket 40, supported from the side-pieces 2, said bracket being similar to the bracket 18 hereinbefore described. At its upper end the screw 39 is provided with'a hand-wheel 41, and by the rotation of said screw the arms 37 can be raised or lowered, at'will. In 'the free ends'of the arms 37 is rotatably is then repeated, with the excavating mechamounted a shaft 42, on which is fixed a series of spaced-apartsaw-tooth cutters 43. Movement is imparted to the shaft 42 by means ofa sprocket-wheel 44 fixed thereon and connected by a chain 45 with a similar wheel 46 on the shaft 14. The arms 37 are held in proper operating position by means of arms 47, attached thereto and passing through loops 48 secured to the frame. Upon the shaft 14 being rotated the move ment thereof will be communicated to the shaft 42, causing a rotation thereof and of the cutters 43. WVhen such cutters are in operation, and are brought into contact with the earth through the loweringof the arms 3'7, the earth will be cut and loosened thereby, so that it can be readily handled by the excavating devices. In many cases the ground would be sufliciently soft for the operation of the blades 10 alone, and it would not be necessary to use the cutting devices, but when working'in harder material, such as clay or other hard earth, it can first be prepared by the disks 43 for handling by the blades 10. When in use the cutting devices are on practically the same level with the excavating mechanism, and a short distance in advance thereof.

The machine may be provided at its for power by means of which the machine is operated. V

What I claim and desire to secure, is:

A device of the class described, con1pris ing a main portable frame; a pair of auxiliary frames supported in said main frame so as to be capable of vertical adjustment therein, independently of each other,one of said auxiliary framesbeing in advance of the other; an excavating cylinder carried by the rear one of said frames, provided with a plurality of transverse blades; a series of spaced-apart serrated disks rotatably supported by the forward frame; and conveying mechanism adapted to receive material from said excavating cylinder and discharge it at the side of the machine.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

n ANDERS GHATTSTROM. 

